Brookdale Senior Living sues PharMerica over drug prices

Brookdale Senior Living has sued PharMerica, charging that the long-term care pharmacy improperly changed its drug pricing for Brookdale facilities.

Tennessee-based Brookdale, which operates more than 650 senior living facilities, alleges that it has been paying “artificially inflated” prices since 2009 for drugs provided by PharMerica, one of the nation's largest institutional pharmacies. The case was filed in Kentucky's Jefferson County Circuit Court on Sept. 24, according to local news sources in Louisville, where PharMerica is based.

The suit lists 26 claims against PharMerica, charging that the company “unilaterally” changed its drug pricing structure, reported WDRB, a Fox affiliate in Louisville. The complaint does not specify total damages sought, but each claim involves at least $5,000.

“We believe the litigation has no merit,” a PharMerica spokesperson said. The company is “disappointed” that Brookdale filed suit, and is confident a court will “quickly” clear the pharmacy of wrongdoing, the spokesperson added.

The suit is the latest blow to PharMerica, which is facing a False Claims Act lawsuit filed by the government in August, on allegations of improper narcotics dispensing. Earlier this year, it lost a major contract when Kindred Healthcare opted to transition its skilled nursing pharmacy services to Omnicare.

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